AnimaWings inaugurates new direct flights from Cluj-Napoca to Athens for the first time and expands its flight network from Transylvania for the 2026 summer season

Cluj-Napoca, April 9, 2026 - AnimaWings, a 100% Romanian full-service airline, continues to expand its network of regular routes and officially inaugurates the direct Cluj-Napoca – Athens route, offering passengers from Transylvania quick access to one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and a major hub for connections to the Greek islands.

The first flight on the Cluj-Napoca route – Athena took place on April 5, 2026, with the operation available all year round. Other direct flights from the heart of Transylvania to Greece will start in June, for the summer season, respectively: Cluj-Thessaloniki, from June 2, with 2 direct flights per week, followed by regular seasonal flights to Zakynthos, from June 4, one weekly race, every Thursday.

Full-service onboard experience for Cluj-Napoca – Athens flights

Route to Athena is operated with two weekly frequencies, on weekdays Thursday and Sunday, with a flight schedule in the early part of the day, optimal for both business and leisure travelers. The average flight duration is approximately 2 hours each way.

The flight schedule is designed to allow easy access to the Athens connection network, offering passengers the opportunity to continue their journey to numerous destinations in Greece, including the Aegean islands, during the same day.

Passengers benefit from a full-service onboard experience, with Premium Economy and Economy Class travel options, all tickets including free seat selection, 8 kg cabin baggage and 4 kg personal item. The flights are operated with modern Airbus A220-300 aircraft, in full economy configuration with 148 seats, recently entered the AnimaWings fleet and which will be assigned to regional bases in Romania in the coming seasons.

Mr Marius Pandel, CEO of AnimaWings stated: "The opening of the direct Cluj-Napoca – Athens route responds to the growing demand from Transylvania for destinations in Greece, both for business trips and for city breaks or holidays. Athens becomes a strategic point both for tourism and for connections to the Greek islands and represents an important regional hub. Until now, this route was not served by direct regular flights, and its introduction contributes to expanding connectivity from regional airports in Romania, facilitating mobility and the development of commercial and tourist relations."

Ms. Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Communications & Marketing of Athens International Airport, stated: “We warmly welcome the new route inaugurated by AnimaWings, connecting Athens to Cluj-Napoca, in the heart of Transylvania, an exciting destination and an important regional hub in Romania! We are delighted to improve connectivity between Romania and Greece, by adding the city of Cluj to the network of destinations served directly by our airport. On the occasion of the launch of the new route, we look forward to welcoming all passengers from Romania traveling to our city and beyond, as well as travelers from Athens/Greece who choose to discover this unique Romanian destination. We wish the airline a warm welcome and much success in its development on the Greek market.”

The President of the Cluj County Council, Mr. Alin Tişe stated on this occasion: "Air connectivity is an essential factor for the competitiveness and sustainable development of Cluj County. The opening of the new direct Cluj-Napoca - Athens route, along with the other destinations operated by the Romanian company AnimaWings, will have a significant impact on the development of tourism, will facilitate business relations and will contribute to increasing the mobility of citizens in Cluj and the entire North-West region. This air link also creates new opportunities for economic and cultural collaboration with the Attika region of Greece. Cluj County Council will continue to support the expansion and modernization of the airport, so that our county maintains its status as a benchmark of excellence and development in the region.”

Mr. Viorel Federiga, President of the Board of Directors of Cluj International Airport, he wanted to specify in turn: "Through a series of remarkable efforts, materialized by AnimaWings' decision to operate the new Cluj-Athens route, Cluj International Airport demonstrates once again that it is the regional airport with the most dynamic and spectacular development. We wish the air operator AnimaWings much success and to as many destinations operated from Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport as possible.”

Mr. David Ciceo, General Manager of Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport, to added: "We are pleased that, just 1 year and 3 months after the start of regular flight operations from Cluj airport, the airline AnimaWings continues its accelerated expansion process, having a portfolio of 6 regular destinations available from Cluj airport: Athens, Bucharest, Istanbul, Thessaloniki, Olbia-Sardinia and Zakynthos. The direct connection to Athens, the capital of Greece – operated all year round, meets a real demand from passengers and completes the offer of foreign destinations with a strategic point in southern Europe, opening up opportunities for both business travelers and passengers who choose Greece as a holiday destination.”

About AnimaWings:

AnimaWings is a 100% Romanian airline, inaugurated in 2020 and part of Memento Group, alongside the tour operator Christian Tour, with a team of professionals who offer passengers comfortable travel, on regular or charter flights, implementing systems, procedures and safety protocols to an exceptional standard.

The airline is in full expansion and operates the newest fleet in Romanian aviation. From April, AnimaWings will operate with 8 modern Airbus aircraft, of which 4 Airbus 220s received directly from the factory in the last 6 months. The AnimaWings expansion plan by the end of 2027 targets a total of 18 aircraft.

These routes complete the extensive AnimaWings network of connections which reaches a total of 56 destinations.

For more information: Ana Cirjan

Account Manager, Total PR
ana.cirjan@totalpr.ro , 0733.057.499